Chapter Sixteen: Explanations
Yugi: I wonder what this means?
Mijikai: Just some questions will be answered.
Yugi: That's good, I can use some explanations. By the way, where's Yami?
Mijikai: Probably fell in a hole or something.
Yami: Did not!
Yugi: Yami, where were you?
Yami: I got bored and decided to beat Bakura up.
Yugi: ^-^0 (sweatdrop)
Mijikai: Okay, well, let's get started!
(People's major question will be answered)
***************************************************************
"Okay, Yug, you can start on how this whole thing started," said Jounouchi, as he took a bit of cookie.
Hikari put down his tea and said, "It probably started in the beginning of time, when Light and Dark were first created..."
"Uh, nothing personal or offensive or anything, but can we make it brief?"
Hikari smiled warmly.
"Sure. These two magics have been enemies for milleniums."
"Wait. If there enemies, how come you're of Light and he's of Dark?" asked Anzu.
"Simple. When ever two people of the opposite magic have children, there always twins in the balance. As they grow, one will start becoming the Light and the other the Dark. But there are rare times when they have one child. Those are called Equidists," Hikari explained, and silently cocked an eye twoards Seto, who looked at the ground and sipped his tea.
"I have a question," said Honda. (Yami: OMG! Honda has a question! Honda: -_______- Not funny! Yugi: (giggle) Mijikai: YAMI!)
"Ask away."
"How do you know Ryou and Seto?"
"Ryou is my childhood friend, and Seto is, well, Yugioh's and my protector."
The three looked confused.
"Let me explain a little better. He was our protector when we were young."
"Oh," they said.
"Are you still Yugi, or are you now Hikari?" Yami asked. (IT'S THE BIG QUESTION! DUN DUN DUUUUUUN!!! Yami: -_______-)
Everyone was silent, for they had been thinking the same thing, too. Hikari took a deep breath and said, "That question is going to be complicated to explain. But here it goes. Yugi and me are the same person, but different personalites. For, I grew up with the Light, and he grew up down there on earth. So, Yugi was actually me all the time, well, let's just say with some attitude."
"I'll say," said Sugoroku. "You two argued like one of those couples on T.V. I was lucky you didn't throw anything breakable."
"Jiichan!" Hikari and Yami shouted at the same time.
Everyone laughed.
"Man, it seems like you guys went at each other's throats," said Jounouchi.
"One at least," said Hikari, while taking a sip.
"Hey!"
"Well, you were the one who was more violent."
"And you weren't?"
"Hmmmm. Maybe calling names, but nothing dangerous like holding someone upside down in a thirty foot tree and dropping him. Or dropping him so his head's about to hit the concrete."
"...I hate you."
"I love you too, Niichan," Hikari said, clapping him on the back.
Everyone chuckled at the friendly banter between the two brothers. Then Hikari turned to his three friends from earth.
"You better get back. Your family must be worried."
The three nodded, but were sad that they probably never see their four friends again.
"I better go back too," said Sugoroku.
"You mean you aren't staying Jiichan?" Hikari asked, disappointment in his eyes.
"Now, now, you're old enough to take care of yourself, and I'm sure Yami will look after you," he said with a wink.
"That I shall," Yami murmured and slipped an arm around Hikari's shoulders.
***************************************************************
The three friends sighed sadly as the image of their new friends waving goodbye lingered in their memory. It wasn't till the silence was broken that they came to their senses.
"Well," said Sugoroku. "You three better get home. And remember, tell no one about what you've experienced."
All three nodded and said goodbye to each other and left. When they arrived at school they greeted each other and were about to turn to say hi to Yugi, when they remembered he was gone. Sometimes they stopped at the Game Shop out of habit to wait for Yugi, when they remembered he didn't live their anymore. In class, they usually stared at the three empty seat where their three friends used to occupy. One day they were at the pizza parlor and all three sighed.
"I miss Seto and Ryou," said Anzu. "And I miss Yami, but I really miss Hikari."
"Anzu," said Jounouchi, a little sternly. "He's Yugi. Not Hikari."
"Doesn't matter, there the same person."
"Yeah, but one was our best friend, Anzu," said Honda sadly. "The other seems like a complete stranger."
Anzu had to nod in agreement.
"At least we get to see Sugoroku," said Anzu. "It makes me feel better to see a familiar face that didn't leave us."
Jounouchi slammed his hands on the table, ignoring the stings running through his palms.
"Are you saying they purposely left?"
"No...I..."
"Are you saying they abandoned us?"
"Jou calm down," said Honda. "Anzu didn't mean it that way. She just meant that she's happy that at least one of them stayed with us."
Jounouchi heavily sat back down, bowing his head.
"Gomen ne Anzu. I guess I snapped."
Anzu put a hand on Jounouchi's shoulder.
"It's okay. The truth is, is that I would probably have done the same thing."
"I just miss them so much, especially Yugi. I mean, remember when we first met him?" Jounouchi asked.
"I remember Jou. It was in the fourth grade..."
***************************************************************
(Flash back)
"Hey Anzu," greeted Honda.
"Hi Honda."
"Hey."
"Hey Jou."
"What do you want to do? I'm really bored," graoned Honda.
"Arcade?" Jounouchi asked.
"Yeah!" everyone agreed and hurried down the street.
As they neared the arcade, they stopped as they heard sniffling coming from the alley way that was a few blocks from there destination. Curiously, they peered in and was shocked to find a boy. He wa small and looked like he was second grade. He had odd spiky black hair that was outlined in red and long golden bangs that hung in his face. He looked pretty beaten up.
"You okay?" asked Anzu.
The boy gasped and looked up fearfully. Anzu stared in amazment. Nobody she ever knew had purple eyes. They were soft violet.
She kneeled before him and his already wide eyes widened a bit more as he scooted away.
"Don't be afraid," she said gently. "We won't hurt you." (Yugi: What am I a stray animal? Yami: (snicker) Yugi: _____ Yami: HA...ha...heh...I'll shut up now. Yugi: Thank you!)
His eyes calmed but still looked fearfully up at Jounouchi and Honda, who gave him friendly smiles. A small smile twiched at the edge of the boys mouth but it was gone in an instant and he yelped as he scooted back, even thought he was already against a wall.
"What's the matter?" asked Jounouchi, confused.
Suddenly, he and Honda were picked up and thrown into the streets.
"I found you, you little runt!" snarled a fifth grader.
The boy trembled and cried as his eyes widened to their fullest as the bully advanced towards him. Anzu took one look at the poor boy and stood up in front of him, arms out.
"Leave him alone! He's just a defensless little kid!"
"Out of my way woman!" he shouted and shoved her aside.
He advanced on the trembling boy and grabbed him, slamming him into the brick wall.
"This is for being a runt," and let his fist go.
He cried out as it impacted on his ribs.
"And this is for being a know it all," and punched him in the stomach.
"And this is for..."
"And take this for being a bully!" shouted Jounouchi and Honda as they grabbed him and threw him out into the streets.
But the bully would not back down and lunged for them, but the boys only smiled in joy and fought back. While the boys were fighting, Anzu crawled to the boy. His eyes were closed and he didn't move which worried her. The only reasurence she had that he was alive was the falling raising of his chest. Jounouchi gave a final punch to the bullies face while Honda took a last blow to the stomach, then both grabbed him by the shoulders and again threw him to the streets.
"And let that be a lesson to leave little kids alone!" yelled Jounouchi as the bully ran down the street.
They turned and rushed towards Anzu.
"Honda call an ambulence," she ordered.
Honda nodded and rushed out of the ally and got into the pay phone booth.
"Jou, let's get him inside one of the shops."
Jounouchi picked the boy up easily and went inside the nearest one.
"Oh, dear, what happened?" asked the worker when they entered inside.
"Can we stay till the ambulence comes?" Anzu asked.
"Sure, sure. I just hope your little friend will be alright."
Minutes later, the boy was taken to the hospital and the others waited in the waiting room. Minutes ticked by, but it seemed like hours. A doctor came inside the waiting room and they rushed to him.
"Will he be alright?" they asked at the same time.
The doctor smiled.
"He will be alright. Besides a broken rib and some nasty bruises, nothing is wrong with him."
"Can we see him?" asked Anzu.
"Of course, follow me," he said, and they did.
Once they came inside his room, they went towards the bed. The boy slept soundly but there was agrimace on his face. He groaned and opened his eyes slowly, and stared at them in confusion.
"Daijoubu ka? (Are you alright?)" Anzu asked gently.
He nodded.
"Hey, um, what's your name?" asked Honda.
"Yugi."
"Well, Yugi, "said Jounouchi. "It's nice to know you're okay."
Yugi smiled.
"Arigato," he whispered and closed his eyes sleepily.
The next few days, they visited him and they four would chatter endlessly. The three were a bit surprised that Yugi was in the same grade they were in and found out he lived in the orphanage.
The day Yugi left the hospital, Jounouchi had an annoncement.
"Yugi. Since from what you told us, that you've been picked on a lot and we don't want to see you get hurt, we want to be your friends."
Yugi's eyes widened, and Anzu took his hand.
"Yugi. We really grew to care about you and we can't stand the thought of you getting beaten up again."
"We want to help you out and be your friend," said Honda.
Yugi smiled at them, and wiped a tear from his eye.
"Arigato. I've never had friends before."
"Well, you have some now," said Jounouchi.
"If you'll accept us," said Anzu.
"Of course accept. You've grown to care about me and I've grown to care about all of you."
"Great! Welcome to the four members of friendship!" shouted Honda.
Yugi laughed and thanked them again.
(End Flash back)
**************************************************************
Anzu nodded.
"He really did change our lives," she sighed.
"Literally," Honda muttered.
"I just hope we can see at least Hikari again," Jounouchi said.
"And the others," added Honda.
Anzu started shedding tears.
"We'll probably never see our friend Yugi again because he's now Hikari."
"Maybe, maybe not," Jounouchi muttered.
***************************************************************
Hikari looked out from the balcony and sighed sadly to himself.
"Miss them?" asked Yami.
"Hai, Yugioh."
"Hikari, no offense, but I'm glad I killed those damned parents of yours."
"It's true they weren't friendly, but I wish you didn't kill them."
"Gomen ne. But they could have killed you if I hadn't them."
"Iie. I odn't think they would go that far."
"Maybe, but I think in time they would."
They became silent.
"Hikari. Are you still afraid of thunder?"
"Hai, nichan. Hai."
"Aibou...what did Weevel do to cause himself banishement?"
"He pretended to be on the Light, but wasn't. He only wanted to conquer it. When I found out, he transported me to the Bug Realm, hoping I'd be killed by one of his Giant bugs. When that failed, he hoped to beat me in a duel. Who ever lost would be banished to the ends of the earth."
"Hmmm," Yami mused.
They stared at the land of the Light, and Hikari felt happyiness rise in his heart as his eyes experienced the peace of the land.
"How was your childhood as Yugi?" Yami asked.
"Not a very happy one."
Yami looked at Hikari and saw the sadness in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around Hikari in a conforting hug, and Hikari leaned against him.
"I'm sorry," Yami whispered. "I didn't mean to make you sad."
"Iie. Some lives are better then others. If their bad, they most likely will get better, and even the best of lives could turn ugly."
"Like yours?"
"Well, my childhood was better, but it got worse. On earth, my childhood wasn't so good, but eventually got better."
Yami slowly unwrapped his arms from Hikari and turned away.
"I'm afraid it's my fault," he muttered sadly.
"Iie Yugioh," Hikari protested. "Fate has its ways. Bad or good."
"But I still feel bad. I even feel bad for killing Ryou's brother, and I don't even like him."
"Actually, I think you feel bad for Ryou. For you do know what its like to lose a brother. Even though Ryou's brother hated him and was evil, he still loved him. Like I did you."
Yami tensed, but slowly relaxed as he felt Hikari's soothing hand on his shoulder.
"Don't feel bad. It wasn't your fault. It was partly mine."
"How?" Yami asked as he spun around in surprise.
"For some things, I sort of made decisions for you, and when you had your official choice, you wanted to prove to me that you can make your own."
"Gomen ne, still."
"Hm?"
"Even though that may be true, I still broke our promise."
"So, you do remember?"
"Yes, and will forever be haunted by it."
**************************************************************
(Flash back)
They were in the hamhock and the sun shone upon them, as the breeze rocked them back and forth.
"Niichan, will you be leaving again?" Hikari asked sadly.
"Hai," Yami answered with regret.
"You're leaving me, again?"
"Not really, Hikari. As long as I have these pearls and you have the locket we'll never leave each other for real. For in these items is a portion of love and as long as we have that much, we'll never feel alone."
"Really?"
"Really."
"You promise you'll love me forever?" asked Hikari.
"I'll do better then that. I promise I'll never leave you and if I do, I'll come back. And I definitly promise to protect you and love you. Forever, more then forever."
Hikari smiled.
"And I promise the same thing!"
(End of Flash back)
***************************************************************
"I didn't keep my promise. I hated you instead of loving you. I was far away and never intended to come back. I ...killed you instead of protecting you. How can I forgive myself?" he asked as his hands formed into fists.
"Forgive and forget. That's what mother taught me and it's true. Forget and forgive your deed."
Yami turned and hugged Hikari tightly.
"I'm sorry, but I can't forgive myself, and never will forget."
Hikari's eyes saddened but nodded at Yami's decsion.
"I have to go see Seto," Hikari finally said.
Yami didn't want to let go. He felt if he did he would lose his brother again, but reluctantly did.
"See ya niichan," Hikari said with a smile and ran lightly out the door.
"Hikari," Yami sighed, as he watched him go. "I can never forgive myself for killing my tenshi no hikari. (beloved angel of light). Never."
***************************************************************
Yugi: That was sweet.
Mijikai: Just like you.
Yugi: (blushes)
Yami: Now that's what I call a chapter. Except for that flash back. That was cruel! How could you have a bully beat up my Hikari!
Mijikai: (ignores Yami) Well, I'm sad to report there is one more chapter left. So I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I promise the next one won't be so late.
Review!
Yugi: I wonder what this means?
Mijikai: Just some questions will be answered.
Yugi: That's good, I can use some explanations. By the way, where's Yami?
Mijikai: Probably fell in a hole or something.
Yami: Did not!
Yugi: Yami, where were you?
Yami: I got bored and decided to beat Bakura up.
Yugi: ^-^0 (sweatdrop)
Mijikai: Okay, well, let's get started!
(People's major question will be answered)
***************************************************************
"Okay, Yug, you can start on how this whole thing started," said Jounouchi, as he took a bit of cookie.
Hikari put down his tea and said, "It probably started in the beginning of time, when Light and Dark were first created..."
"Uh, nothing personal or offensive or anything, but can we make it brief?"
Hikari smiled warmly.
"Sure. These two magics have been enemies for milleniums."
"Wait. If there enemies, how come you're of Light and he's of Dark?" asked Anzu.
"Simple. When ever two people of the opposite magic have children, there always twins in the balance. As they grow, one will start becoming the Light and the other the Dark. But there are rare times when they have one child. Those are called Equidists," Hikari explained, and silently cocked an eye twoards Seto, who looked at the ground and sipped his tea.
"I have a question," said Honda. (Yami: OMG! Honda has a question! Honda: -_______- Not funny! Yugi: (giggle) Mijikai: YAMI!)
"Ask away."
"How do you know Ryou and Seto?"
"Ryou is my childhood friend, and Seto is, well, Yugioh's and my protector."
The three looked confused.
"Let me explain a little better. He was our protector when we were young."
"Oh," they said.
"Are you still Yugi, or are you now Hikari?" Yami asked. (IT'S THE BIG QUESTION! DUN DUN DUUUUUUN!!! Yami: -_______-)
Everyone was silent, for they had been thinking the same thing, too. Hikari took a deep breath and said, "That question is going to be complicated to explain. But here it goes. Yugi and me are the same person, but different personalites. For, I grew up with the Light, and he grew up down there on earth. So, Yugi was actually me all the time, well, let's just say with some attitude."
"I'll say," said Sugoroku. "You two argued like one of those couples on T.V. I was lucky you didn't throw anything breakable."
"Jiichan!" Hikari and Yami shouted at the same time.
Everyone laughed.
"Man, it seems like you guys went at each other's throats," said Jounouchi.
"One at least," said Hikari, while taking a sip.
"Hey!"
"Well, you were the one who was more violent."
"And you weren't?"
"Hmmmm. Maybe calling names, but nothing dangerous like holding someone upside down in a thirty foot tree and dropping him. Or dropping him so his head's about to hit the concrete."
"...I hate you."
"I love you too, Niichan," Hikari said, clapping him on the back.
Everyone chuckled at the friendly banter between the two brothers. Then Hikari turned to his three friends from earth.
"You better get back. Your family must be worried."
The three nodded, but were sad that they probably never see their four friends again.
"I better go back too," said Sugoroku.
"You mean you aren't staying Jiichan?" Hikari asked, disappointment in his eyes.
"Now, now, you're old enough to take care of yourself, and I'm sure Yami will look after you," he said with a wink.
"That I shall," Yami murmured and slipped an arm around Hikari's shoulders.
***************************************************************
The three friends sighed sadly as the image of their new friends waving goodbye lingered in their memory. It wasn't till the silence was broken that they came to their senses.
"Well," said Sugoroku. "You three better get home. And remember, tell no one about what you've experienced."
All three nodded and said goodbye to each other and left. When they arrived at school they greeted each other and were about to turn to say hi to Yugi, when they remembered he was gone. Sometimes they stopped at the Game Shop out of habit to wait for Yugi, when they remembered he didn't live their anymore. In class, they usually stared at the three empty seat where their three friends used to occupy. One day they were at the pizza parlor and all three sighed.
"I miss Seto and Ryou," said Anzu. "And I miss Yami, but I really miss Hikari."
"Anzu," said Jounouchi, a little sternly. "He's Yugi. Not Hikari."
"Doesn't matter, there the same person."
"Yeah, but one was our best friend, Anzu," said Honda sadly. "The other seems like a complete stranger."
Anzu had to nod in agreement.
"At least we get to see Sugoroku," said Anzu. "It makes me feel better to see a familiar face that didn't leave us."
Jounouchi slammed his hands on the table, ignoring the stings running through his palms.
"Are you saying they purposely left?"
"No...I..."
"Are you saying they abandoned us?"
"Jou calm down," said Honda. "Anzu didn't mean it that way. She just meant that she's happy that at least one of them stayed with us."
Jounouchi heavily sat back down, bowing his head.
"Gomen ne Anzu. I guess I snapped."
Anzu put a hand on Jounouchi's shoulder.
"It's okay. The truth is, is that I would probably have done the same thing."
"I just miss them so much, especially Yugi. I mean, remember when we first met him?" Jounouchi asked.
"I remember Jou. It was in the fourth grade..."
***************************************************************
(Flash back)
"Hey Anzu," greeted Honda.
"Hi Honda."
"Hey."
"Hey Jou."
"What do you want to do? I'm really bored," graoned Honda.
"Arcade?" Jounouchi asked.
"Yeah!" everyone agreed and hurried down the street.
As they neared the arcade, they stopped as they heard sniffling coming from the alley way that was a few blocks from there destination. Curiously, they peered in and was shocked to find a boy. He wa small and looked like he was second grade. He had odd spiky black hair that was outlined in red and long golden bangs that hung in his face. He looked pretty beaten up.
"You okay?" asked Anzu.
The boy gasped and looked up fearfully. Anzu stared in amazment. Nobody she ever knew had purple eyes. They were soft violet.
She kneeled before him and his already wide eyes widened a bit more as he scooted away.
"Don't be afraid," she said gently. "We won't hurt you." (Yugi: What am I a stray animal? Yami: (snicker) Yugi: _____ Yami: HA...ha...heh...I'll shut up now. Yugi: Thank you!)
His eyes calmed but still looked fearfully up at Jounouchi and Honda, who gave him friendly smiles. A small smile twiched at the edge of the boys mouth but it was gone in an instant and he yelped as he scooted back, even thought he was already against a wall.
"What's the matter?" asked Jounouchi, confused.
Suddenly, he and Honda were picked up and thrown into the streets.
"I found you, you little runt!" snarled a fifth grader.
The boy trembled and cried as his eyes widened to their fullest as the bully advanced towards him. Anzu took one look at the poor boy and stood up in front of him, arms out.
"Leave him alone! He's just a defensless little kid!"
"Out of my way woman!" he shouted and shoved her aside.
He advanced on the trembling boy and grabbed him, slamming him into the brick wall.
"This is for being a runt," and let his fist go.
He cried out as it impacted on his ribs.
"And this is for being a know it all," and punched him in the stomach.
"And this is for..."
"And take this for being a bully!" shouted Jounouchi and Honda as they grabbed him and threw him out into the streets.
But the bully would not back down and lunged for them, but the boys only smiled in joy and fought back. While the boys were fighting, Anzu crawled to the boy. His eyes were closed and he didn't move which worried her. The only reasurence she had that he was alive was the falling raising of his chest. Jounouchi gave a final punch to the bullies face while Honda took a last blow to the stomach, then both grabbed him by the shoulders and again threw him to the streets.
"And let that be a lesson to leave little kids alone!" yelled Jounouchi as the bully ran down the street.
They turned and rushed towards Anzu.
"Honda call an ambulence," she ordered.
Honda nodded and rushed out of the ally and got into the pay phone booth.
"Jou, let's get him inside one of the shops."
Jounouchi picked the boy up easily and went inside the nearest one.
"Oh, dear, what happened?" asked the worker when they entered inside.
"Can we stay till the ambulence comes?" Anzu asked.
"Sure, sure. I just hope your little friend will be alright."
Minutes later, the boy was taken to the hospital and the others waited in the waiting room. Minutes ticked by, but it seemed like hours. A doctor came inside the waiting room and they rushed to him.
"Will he be alright?" they asked at the same time.
The doctor smiled.
"He will be alright. Besides a broken rib and some nasty bruises, nothing is wrong with him."
"Can we see him?" asked Anzu.
"Of course, follow me," he said, and they did.
Once they came inside his room, they went towards the bed. The boy slept soundly but there was agrimace on his face. He groaned and opened his eyes slowly, and stared at them in confusion.
"Daijoubu ka? (Are you alright?)" Anzu asked gently.
He nodded.
"Hey, um, what's your name?" asked Honda.
"Yugi."
"Well, Yugi, "said Jounouchi. "It's nice to know you're okay."
Yugi smiled.
"Arigato," he whispered and closed his eyes sleepily.
The next few days, they visited him and they four would chatter endlessly. The three were a bit surprised that Yugi was in the same grade they were in and found out he lived in the orphanage.
The day Yugi left the hospital, Jounouchi had an annoncement.
"Yugi. Since from what you told us, that you've been picked on a lot and we don't want to see you get hurt, we want to be your friends."
Yugi's eyes widened, and Anzu took his hand.
"Yugi. We really grew to care about you and we can't stand the thought of you getting beaten up again."
"We want to help you out and be your friend," said Honda.
Yugi smiled at them, and wiped a tear from his eye.
"Arigato. I've never had friends before."
"Well, you have some now," said Jounouchi.
"If you'll accept us," said Anzu.
"Of course accept. You've grown to care about me and I've grown to care about all of you."
"Great! Welcome to the four members of friendship!" shouted Honda.
Yugi laughed and thanked them again.
(End Flash back)
**************************************************************
Anzu nodded.
"He really did change our lives," she sighed.
"Literally," Honda muttered.
"I just hope we can see at least Hikari again," Jounouchi said.
"And the others," added Honda.
Anzu started shedding tears.
"We'll probably never see our friend Yugi again because he's now Hikari."
"Maybe, maybe not," Jounouchi muttered.
***************************************************************
Hikari looked out from the balcony and sighed sadly to himself.
"Miss them?" asked Yami.
"Hai, Yugioh."
"Hikari, no offense, but I'm glad I killed those damned parents of yours."
"It's true they weren't friendly, but I wish you didn't kill them."
"Gomen ne. But they could have killed you if I hadn't them."
"Iie. I odn't think they would go that far."
"Maybe, but I think in time they would."
They became silent.
"Hikari. Are you still afraid of thunder?"
"Hai, nichan. Hai."
"Aibou...what did Weevel do to cause himself banishement?"
"He pretended to be on the Light, but wasn't. He only wanted to conquer it. When I found out, he transported me to the Bug Realm, hoping I'd be killed by one of his Giant bugs. When that failed, he hoped to beat me in a duel. Who ever lost would be banished to the ends of the earth."
"Hmmm," Yami mused.
They stared at the land of the Light, and Hikari felt happyiness rise in his heart as his eyes experienced the peace of the land.
"How was your childhood as Yugi?" Yami asked.
"Not a very happy one."
Yami looked at Hikari and saw the sadness in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around Hikari in a conforting hug, and Hikari leaned against him.
"I'm sorry," Yami whispered. "I didn't mean to make you sad."
"Iie. Some lives are better then others. If their bad, they most likely will get better, and even the best of lives could turn ugly."
"Like yours?"
"Well, my childhood was better, but it got worse. On earth, my childhood wasn't so good, but eventually got better."
Yami slowly unwrapped his arms from Hikari and turned away.
"I'm afraid it's my fault," he muttered sadly.
"Iie Yugioh," Hikari protested. "Fate has its ways. Bad or good."
"But I still feel bad. I even feel bad for killing Ryou's brother, and I don't even like him."
"Actually, I think you feel bad for Ryou. For you do know what its like to lose a brother. Even though Ryou's brother hated him and was evil, he still loved him. Like I did you."
Yami tensed, but slowly relaxed as he felt Hikari's soothing hand on his shoulder.
"Don't feel bad. It wasn't your fault. It was partly mine."
"How?" Yami asked as he spun around in surprise.
"For some things, I sort of made decisions for you, and when you had your official choice, you wanted to prove to me that you can make your own."
"Gomen ne, still."
"Hm?"
"Even though that may be true, I still broke our promise."
"So, you do remember?"
"Yes, and will forever be haunted by it."
**************************************************************
(Flash back)
They were in the hamhock and the sun shone upon them, as the breeze rocked them back and forth.
"Niichan, will you be leaving again?" Hikari asked sadly.
"Hai," Yami answered with regret.
"You're leaving me, again?"
"Not really, Hikari. As long as I have these pearls and you have the locket we'll never leave each other for real. For in these items is a portion of love and as long as we have that much, we'll never feel alone."
"Really?"
"Really."
"You promise you'll love me forever?" asked Hikari.
"I'll do better then that. I promise I'll never leave you and if I do, I'll come back. And I definitly promise to protect you and love you. Forever, more then forever."
Hikari smiled.
"And I promise the same thing!"
(End of Flash back)
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"I didn't keep my promise. I hated you instead of loving you. I was far away and never intended to come back. I ...killed you instead of protecting you. How can I forgive myself?" he asked as his hands formed into fists.
"Forgive and forget. That's what mother taught me and it's true. Forget and forgive your deed."
Yami turned and hugged Hikari tightly.
"I'm sorry, but I can't forgive myself, and never will forget."
Hikari's eyes saddened but nodded at Yami's decsion.
"I have to go see Seto," Hikari finally said.
Yami didn't want to let go. He felt if he did he would lose his brother again, but reluctantly did.
"See ya niichan," Hikari said with a smile and ran lightly out the door.
"Hikari," Yami sighed, as he watched him go. "I can never forgive myself for killing my tenshi no hikari. (beloved angel of light). Never."
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Yugi: That was sweet.
Mijikai: Just like you.
Yugi: (blushes)
Yami: Now that's what I call a chapter. Except for that flash back. That was cruel! How could you have a bully beat up my Hikari!
Mijikai: (ignores Yami) Well, I'm sad to report there is one more chapter left. So I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I promise the next one won't be so late.
Review!